Victim of a Bitcoin and Paypal scam :(

[crosseyedlion]

Hi all,

Woke up to the rubbish news today that the 1BTC I sold last night via ebay was fraudulent, in that the buyer is claiming their account was compromised (i've asked them and this was the only transaction that apparently was). To cut a long story short, although there is irrefutable evidence of the transaction taking place both financially and the BTC being transferred, paypal take the side of the buyer (just from their word, no other evidence).

Im gutted and disappointed at myself, being £480 out of pocket (I purchased it the same day specifically to sell) is a bitter pill to swallow. I feel stupid and angry - I have to get over it and chalk it up to experience (dont use paypal!), but I will be contacting the police shortly.

Leaves an interesting challenge, I have their wallet address: https://blockchain.info/address/16hk46Xn2ZktCRtf3o...

My transaction is the 1BTC in yesterday (27th)

If anyone wants to play johnathan creek and help me track them i'd be grateful/might be a fun excercise.

If anyone feels like taking pity and contributing to a pint my wallet address is

13DWUh2wT3Mys2CmUaa8Nr5Jq8CYaj1C2w

And not too many smart arse comments please, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Regards

Alex

[Jon999]

Can't you find out their actual details i.e. name and address rather than wallet address?

[Muntu]

Smartarse. One word, not two.

[jammy_basturd]

Why is their account being compromised your problem?

[crosseyedlion]

jammy_basturd said:

Why is their account being compromised your problem?

Exactly, but it's not how paypal see it.

[crosseyedlion]

jammy_basturd said:

Why is their account being compromised your problem?

Exactly, but it's not how paypal see it.

[TheEnd]

Jon999 said:

Can't you find out their actual details i.e. name and address rather than wallet address?

That was the main point of bitcoins, you couldn't trace them and their owners.

[jogon]

Will be virtually impossible to track via the bit coin address your best bet is seeing if you have any info on ebay. Do you have the buyers address and is it verified? If so then thats your first port of call.

As you now know do not sell anything on ebay using paypal unless you send it via a recorded delivery company and even then for valuable items you insist on a verified address too.

eBay is infested with rogue buyers, it seems to have become a vocation for the benefit class.

If you fancy trading bit coins again then I recommend - http://bitbargain.co.uk - funds remain in escrow until you confirm receipt of payment. I use Pingit which comes through instantly and cannot be refunded.

[Jon999]

TheEnd said:

Jon999 said:

Can't you find out their actual details i.e. name and address rather than wallet address?

That was the main point of bitcoins, you couldn't trace them and their owners.

I'm aware of that I just thought the op may have had such information prior to transferring such a valuable item.

[crosseyedlion]

Jon999 said:

I'm aware of that I just thought the op may have had such information prior to transferring such a valuable item.

I have the address and contact info through the eBay sale, the whole problem is the buyer claiming it wasn't them!

[crosseyedlion]

Jon999 said:

I'm aware of that I just thought the op may have had such information prior to transferring such a valuable item.

I have the address and contact info through the eBay sale, the whole problem is the buyer claiming it wasn't them!

[phil-sti]

This annoys me about eBay, they just allow blatant fraud. His account being compromised isn't your fault, the buyer should have to prove that the bitcoin account it was paid into wasn't his.

[pteron]

If you think the ebayer is lying then why not take it to the small claims court?

One thing to lie to ebay/paypal another to do it in front of a judge.

[crosseyedlion]

pteron said:

If you think the ebayer is lying then why not take it to the small claims court?

One thing to lie to ebay/paypal another to do it in front of a judge.

If I end up losing it all ill be going to the police.

[crosseyedlion]

pteron said:

If you think the ebayer is lying then why not take it to the small claims court?

One thing to lie to ebay/paypal another to do it in front of a judge.

If I end up losing it all ill be going to the police.

[jammy_basturd]

Police will almost certainly tell you it's a domestic dispute and won't be interested.

[jogon]

jammy_basturd said:

Police will almost certainly tell you it's a domestic dispute and won't be interested.

Then search your house as they think all bit coins are linked to drugs.

[crosseyedlion]

Really? I have nothing to hide but you don't think they'd be interested in a £500 fraud?

[crosseyedlion]

Really? I have nothing to hide but you don't think they'd be interested in a £500 fraud?

[jammy_basturd]

Do you have any proof to say that this eBay buyers account wasn't hacked?